Lessons from My High School Speech Coach

FIVE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS Written by Mason Braasch, Lifestyle Editor Graphic by Alexa Kantor, Staff Graphic Artist

Anyone who knew me in high school would classify me as a speech kid, belonging to the group of students who dressed up in business suits on the weekend and thought that attending public speaking competitions was a fun pastime. Although I spent the majority of my weekends giving tenminute speeches to audiences of up to 1,000 people, I still get anxious when I have to give a presentation in class.

The reality is, public speaking is scary. In fact, 75% of people actually list it above death when asked about their greatest fear.1 However, public speaking is an essential component in many aspects of life—whether you’re presenting an international Ted Talk or giving a speech in class, at some point, you will have to face your fear.

While there is nothing my nationally recognized, high school speech coach could do to entirely subdue my anxiety around public speaking, these five lessons of his allowed me to overcome the nervousness and become a seemingly confident public speaker.

1. Prepare with a Power Pose

Every weekend before I gave my speech, my coach instructed me to stand in a power pose with my chest puffed out, my chin held high and my hands on my hips. This “Wonder Woman” pose might have made me look crazy to those walking by, but it did wonders to boost my confidence.2 The practice of power posing, or standing in a high-power stance for two minutes, is proven to change the way you feel.3 Standing in a powerful pose in the bathroom or hallway for two minutes before you present can enliven you, easing some of the anxiety before you speak.

2. “The Scan”

It’s normal to want to jump into your speech the second you have the floor

¹ Pat Ladouceur, “What We Fear More than Death,” MentalHelp.net, accessed Oct. 2021. ² Amy Cuddy, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are,” TEDTalk, June 2012. ³ Kim Elsesser, “Power Posing Is Back: Amy Cuddy Successfully Refutes Criticism,” Forbes, April 4, 2018. in order to get it over with. Instead, try implementing “The Scan.” Before speaking, take a second to look over your audience, holding eye contact for several moments. Not only will this give you a chance to take a deep breath, but it will signal that you are confident and in control.

3. Never Say Sorry

Tripping over words and forgetting what you’re supposed to say is a completely normal occurrence in public speaking, especially when you are nervous. However, my coach fervently insisted that I should never apologize to my audience. Your listeners do not have a script in front of them, and more often than not, they will not know if you have made a mistake. Rather than admit a mistake by apologizing, take a moment to collect your thoughts and then continue on.

4. Be aware of “Penguin Hands”

When we are nervous, our hands and bodies tend to fidget in ways that we may not be aware of. Common nervous habits include picking at your clothes, swaying back and forth or gesturing unintentionally with your hands by your thighs—my speech coach called this “Penguins Hands,” and worked with me for years to break the habit. While natural, these behaviors undermine your authority when you are speaking.4 Practicing your presentation in the mirror and being intentional about nonverbal gestures and movement will not only make you seem well-rehearsed, but confident and capable as well.

5. Give yourself some grace

No matter how much you practice, public speaking is difficult and nerve-racking—but it is also something that you can feel proud of accomplishing. Whether you are delivering your speech to one person or to 1,000, your ability to convey messages is important and worthy of praise. After all, 75% of people would rather die than do what you are doing!5 ■